Nigeria Adds Chinese Language to School Curriculum

By A.J.

Nigeria has announced that Mandarin, the official language of China, will now be taught in senior secondary schools across the country.

The new subject will begin in the 2025/2026 academic year and will be offered as one of the foreign languages students can choose, alongside French and Arabic.

The decision was made official during the launch of a “Chinese Corner” at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, in Abuja.

Nigerian education officials say the move is part of efforts to give young people more opportunities in a world where China is becoming an important global power.

Many Nigerians already study Chinese at Confucius Institutes in universities, but this is the first time the language is being introduced into the national secondary school curriculum.

Observers say this step reflects the growing ties between Nigeria and China in trade, education, and technology.

It also raises questions about how other African countries, including Cameroon, might prepare their students for a future where Chinese Language and culture could play a bigger role.